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Commercial Aircraft for Iran?

In the wake of talks aimed at resolving international disputes over the country’s nuclear program, talks are underway with potential suppliers for up to 100 commercial passenger jets.

According to Reuters (6/7), Iran Air will need at least 100 passenger jets if current sanctions over its nuclear program are lifted. According to the article, a preliminary deal was signed in Geneva in November, under which Iran accepted to halt some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for partial easing of these sanctions. The accord, which took effect on Jan. 20, was designed to buy time for a final deal within six months and allows for the sale of aircraft parts.The article stressed that supplier companies that co-operate now with Iran Air will find it “easier to do business with companies that co-operated during the current window for sanctions relief”, attributing the quote to the head of Iran Air.

However, the article warns, if economic sanctions are not eased, Iran Air will turn instead to Russia and China as alternatives. U.S. companies Boeing Co and General Electric Co have said they are seeking to export parts to Iran under the agreement for sanctions relief which expires on July 20, according to the article.

According to the head of the airline, specific airplanes under consideration include the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 narrow-body jets, and wide-body long-haul jets such as the A330 and A350, 777 and 787.

In related reported, The Fars News Agency (6/16) Canadian company Bombardier also offered its planes and parts to Iran. “A delegation from Canada's Bombardier Aerospace Company in a meeting with Head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization Ali Reza Jahangirian voiced their company's willingness to sell passenger planes and commercial jets to Iran,” according to the news release. In related reporting, Zawya (6/8) reports that “Iran says sanctions have prevented it from renewing its fleet and contributed to more than 200 accidents that, according to official Iranian media, killed over 2000 people since 1990.”